Whenever Her Highness Sheikha Hissa goes to the races in England, her beloved late father Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, a titan of the sport for decades, is never far from her side.
In a fitting tribute to his memory, the 26-year-old carries — on the right side of her abaya — a small photograph of Sheikh Hamdan, who founded the global Shadwell horse racing and breeding empire which she inherited upon his death last year.
“He comes with me always,” Sheikha Hissa explained in an emotional television interview earlier in the summer after Baaeed had won the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. The bond between father and daughter was strong. On his passing, she wrote on social media: “People lost a father, I lost my best friend.”
And his image carried on a badge will certainly be on display at Ascot on October 15 when Sheikha Hissa will watch Baaeed in his last ever race in the Champion Stakes.
Baaeed, which loosely translated means ‘far away’, has won all ten of his races, most recently at York in the International Stakes. His scintillating performance there drew comparisons with the great Frankel.
The fact that Baaeed is even being mentioned in such glowing terms is a fitting legacy for Sheikh Hamdan whose breeding operation has produced a clutch of equine superstars over the years.
It is a shame the late Deputy Ruler of Dubai did not live to see the son of Sea the Stars ever run.
The breeding dynasty was founded 40 years ago when Sheikh Hamdan visited the royal stud of Queen Elizabeth II at Sandringham in Norfolk and bought a filly named Height of Fashion from Her Majesty for a reported £1.5 million. Baaeed, a fifth generation direct descendant, is now worth an estimated £50m.
“For me and my family Baaeed means the world,” Sheikha Hissa continued. “He is homebred. The whole lineage goes back to Height of Fashion.”
Although the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe was another option for the champion four-year-old, Sheikha Hissa and her advisers, trainer William Haggas and Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold opted on Wednesday for his finale on ‘home turf’ in England.
Gold, who has worked for Shadwell since 1987, helped Sheikha Hissa overhaul the Shadwell empire which has been slimmed down significantly since Sheikh Hamdan passed away.
From 450 horses in training worldwide together with 220 broodmares, numbers have reduced to about 85 and 50 respectively.
“It was a big exercise which took a lot of organising,” Gold explained. “We kept the ones we felt had the most potential plus a few very well bred we had not been able to run.”
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Maureen Haggas with champion four-year-old Baaeed. All images Rob Greig for The National -
Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold with Baaeed. -
Baaeed is preparing for the final race of his glittering career. -
Baaeed is the champions horse of Shadwell. -
Angus Gold with Baaeed. -
Baaeed is estimated to be worth £50m.
Baaeed’s impact on Sheikha Hissa and her family has been profound.
“I have told them to try to enjoy it because this doesn’t happen very often This is the best horse I have been around in 36 years, which shows how rare they are,” Gold added.
“It is very hard to appreciate something if you come into a business and have this success immediately. I am sure it’s a huge thing for the whole family, even those not as interested as Sheikha Hissa. People are coming up to them and congratulating them in Dubai. When they see they own the greatest horse in the world, it is a huge boost.
“It has been a huge learning curve for Sheikha Hissa but she has been fantastic to deal with. She is incredibly knowledgeable.”
Ironically, Gold was working at the Sandringham stud for the Queen when Sheikh Hamdan bought Height of Fashion.
“Everyone was asking why on Earth would anyone want to pay that much for a filly? But then she came and bred the likes of Nashwan (who won the 1989 Derby) and Unfuwain.
“Sheikh Hamdan adored Height of Fashion. And so it is especially meaningful and poignant that Baaeed is descended from her. As sheikh Hamdan passed, Baaeed arrived so he means much more to the family than the average horse. It was like he was sent to help them through the transition period and put them on the right footing.
“Sheikh Hamdan was a very gentle man. The greatest thing about him was his overall passion for this sport, not just racing but particularly breeding.
“He loved every aspect of the breeding. He was humble in victory and gracious in defeat. He understood the business, knew things went wrong and took the bad news amazingly well. ”
Maureen Haggas, the trainer’s wife and daughter of Lester Piggott, summed up Baaeed and his huge appeal.
“He is a dude, he loves the attention. He knows he is a superstar. He has people coming in most days to see him and he loves it. He stands in the yard and poses for half an hour. He knows he is something special.
“He is the horse of a lifetime. We will never have another horse like this. He is very different. Everything is very easy for him. He is a pleasure to train, straightforward, charming, and with a great character and a huge amount of ability.
“Baaeed forms a great link between Sheikh Hamdan and his daughter. Hopefully this horse will help to keep Shadwell alive and thriving in years to come. That would be great and an incredible legacy.”
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Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Aluminium Company inaugurates DUBAL's twenty-five year anniversary celebrations in Dubai on January 9, 2005. Sheikh Hamdan died on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Reuters -
Chard Hills and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid after winning The Coronation Stakes with Ghanaati at the Royal Ascot. The popularity of horseracing in the UAE is widely attributed to Sheikh Hamdan. -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid signs an inauguration document at the opening ceremony of the largest power production and water desalination plant in the UAE, in Dubai, on April 8, 2013. Sarah Dea / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid pictured at the Meydan Racecourse with winner of the 1,200m race, Muarrab, and rider Paul Hanagan in March 5, 2016. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid is presented with the Dubai World Cup trophy in 2015 after Prince Bishop won the showpiece race. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid speaks at the opening session of the Annual Meetings of the Arab Financial Institutions and the Fourth Meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers of Finance on April 2, 2013. Razan Alzayani / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid greets Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, during an iftar reception at Mushrif Palace on July 1, 2014. With them is Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, speaks with Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid during an Eid Al Adha reception at Mushrif Palace on September 2, 2017. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, attend a wedding at then Armed Forces Officers Club on March 23, 2016. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid distributes the Distinguished Student Awards at Dubai International Convention Centre on April 8, 2008. Jeffrey E. Biteng / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, attend a UAE Cabinet meeting at Wahat Al Karama on March 5, 2017. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid greets Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, during an Eid Al Adha reception at Mushrif Palace on August 11, 2019. Eissa Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid attend the Determination Retreat, at the Presidential Palace on March 10, 2019. Also present are Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid presents an award to Mohammed Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Deputy Governor of the UAE Central Bank, on March 11, 2019. Victor Besa / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid offers condolences to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on the death of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed at Al Mushrif Palace on November 21, 2019. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid offers condolences to Sheikh Suroor bin Mohamed on the death of Sheikh Sultan, at Al Mushrif Palace on November 21, 2019. Hamad Al Mansoori for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with his father, Sheikh Rashid, and brother Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1963 -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid attends the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) and the Dubai Solar Show 2020 virtually on October 26, 2020. Courtesy Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid offers condolences to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed on the death of Sheikh Sultan, at Al Mushrif Palace on November 21, 2019. Hamad Al Mansoori for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, attend the final day of the 2019 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, at Shams Tower. Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid, who became Ruler of Dubai in 1958, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, then Crown Prince of Dubai, attend Eid al Fitr prayers. -
Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim Al Assaf is greeted by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid after arriving in Abu Dhabi to attend a GCC finance ministers' meeting on May 7, 2011. AFP -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid opens the 27th edition of Gitex in Dubai on September 8, 2007. Bloomberg -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid speaks to his Saudi counterpart Ibrahim Al Assaf ahead of a GCC finance ministers' meeting in Abu Dhabi on September 7, 2011. Reuters
